Crime Branch may be roped-in if needed:Patil on Pratyusha case

Updated: Friday, April 15, 2016, 15:42 [IST]

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Mumbai, April 15: The parents of TV star Pratyusha Banerjee, who allegedly committed suicide earlier this month, have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a probe into her death by Mumbai Police Crime Branch following which the state government said it may be done.

Making it clear that it was the responsibility of police to get to the bottom of this case, Minister of State (Home) Ranjit Patil said the police administration will have to bear the consequences if their work was not found proper.

The 24-year-old 'Balika Badhu' fame actress was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her residence in Goregaon on April 1. She was then rushed by her boyfriend and actor- producer Rahul Raj Singh to a hospital in Andheri where she was declared brought dead.

A case was later lodged against Rahul for abetment of suicide. Pratyusha's mother Soma Banerjee, in her letter to the CM, Patil and top police officials, sought a probe by Mumbai Police Crime Branch into her death, alleging that Rahul was "solely responsible for her death".

She also alleged that instead of seriously investigating the matter, the Bangur Nagar police, where the case has been registered, was giving a free hand to the accused to destroy the evidence.

"We have received the letter and have asked police officials to take up the case on a high priority basis. If the need be, we do not mind transferring the case to the Crime Branch," Patil said here today. "I have myself spoken to the concerned police officials and have told them that a letter from Pratyusha's mother means that her parents are not happy with the investigation and more needs to be done," he said.

He said the message that needs to go out is that the police are probing the case on a war-footing and no stone will be left unturned.

"If we find that police administration is not doing its work properly, they will have to bear the consequences. It is their outlook on what needs to be done. We will not direct them on what to do, but are closely monitoring what is being done. "If necessary, we will not only use the Crime Branch but all other measures at our disposal to see that the truth comes out," the minister said.